Aquarium filter

ABSTRACT

A filtering device comprising a housing in which is provided a partition for separating the housing into first and second chambers in communicating relation. The housing is provided with at least one opening through which water may enter into the first chamber from an external water-carrying source. The second chamber includes a filtering assembly for cleansing water which has entered the first chamber and which thereafter flows into the second chamber. An air conduit is provided for directing air into the second chamber for urging water through the filtering assembly. Likewise, a conduit is provided for directing both air and cleansed water out of the second chamber after the water has been cleansed by the filtering assembly. An indicator is provided for signalling inflow of water into the first chamber and outflow from the latter into the second chamber.

[ 1March 13, 1973 United States Patent [191 Willinger AQUARIUM FILTER3,332,552 7/1967 Zabel.....................................210/86inventor: Allan H. Willinger, New Rochelle,

NJ Primary Examiner-Reuben Friedman Assistant ExaminerT. A. Granger [73]Assignee: Metaframe Corporation, Maywood,

ABSTRACT [22] Filed: May 3, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 139,666

A filtering device comprising a housing in which is provided a partitionfor separating the housing into first and second chambers incommunicating relation.

Related U.S. Application Data Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 832,172

The housing is provided with at least one opening I969, Pat. No.3,630,367.

from an external water-carrying source. The second chamber includes afiltering assembly for cleansing water which has entered the firstchamber and which thereafter flows into the second chamber. An airconduit is provided for directing air into the second 94 9 mn m Wu 5 1 9M o 4 4 9 w n l w m W81 65 "m mm "u s/ ""0 mml mmh n .r Una "m .M I. suw UIF Il] 2 8 555 [ll chamber for urging water through the filteringas- [56] References Cited sembly. Likewise, a conduit is provided fordirecting both air and cleansed water out of the second UNITED STATESPATENTS chamber after the water has been cleansed by the fil teringassembly. An indicator is provided for signalling inflow of water intothe first chamber and outflow from the latter into the second chamber.

.2l0/169 ......2l0/90 ....2l0/l69 ....210 9o ....210/87 X 11 Claims, 4Drawing Figures n l. mmfna lmm mflh aw 1 SE 33774 55565 99999 1111]////l 97222 1 85 67 03630 98 187 PATENTEDMAR 1 31915 SHEET 10F 2 ALLANH. WILLINGER INVENTOR ATTORNEY5 PATENTEUHAR 1 31973 317203 1 7 SHEET 2UF 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS AQUARIUM FILTER,

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Thisapplication is acontinuation-in-part of Application Ser. No. 832,172, filed on June ll,1969 now US. Pat. No. 3,630,367.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally toan aquarium filter, and more particularly to an aquarium filter that isprovided with an indicator to signal the operability of the filter.

Filters that may be utilized in fish tanks and aquariurns or the likegenerally are provided with a housing in which is contained a filteringassembly and is arranged ing is provided with at least one openingthrough which water may enter into the first chamber from an externalvided for signalling inflow of water into the first so that water maypass through the filtering assembly to be cleansed by the latter.Generally, the water flows into the housing through suitably locatedopenings-in the latter and air is pumped into the housing from anexternal source, such as apumpio'r the like, to urge the water in apreferred direction'throughout the filtering assembly, the latter whichmay include glass wool or the like, and thereafter, the water, togetherwith the air injected into the filtering housing may pass out of thehousing to return into the fish tank or aquarium.

Generally, the housing is transparent and, therefore, as air is injectedinto the housing, air bubbles are easily visible and pass from thehousing into the aquarium. However, as those skilled in the art readilyappreciate, the filtering assembly or glass wool will become cloggedafter extended use as it removes debris and the like from water thatpasses through the housing and,

thus, although the air bubbles injected into the housing may indicatethat the pump is operating ,'these,air bubbles may not necessarilyindicate that water is in fact passing through the'clogged filteringassembly. The

hobbyist must, therefore, generally inspect the filtering device bydismantling the latter so as to most effective- 1y determine whether ornot the glass wool is.clogged and, thus, whether or not the filteringdevice is in factoperating. This is a cumbersome situation at best bothfrom the standpoint'of time and convenience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a filtering device that may be utilized in anaquarium or the-like.

It is another object of the present invention to pro-.

. readily displaceable between two extreme positions,

one of which positions indicates the operabili'ty'of the filter and theother of which indicates the irioperability of the filter. I I

To this end, the present invention relates toa filtering devicecomprising. a housing in which is provided a partition for separatingthe housing into first and second chambers in communicating relation.The houschamber and outflow from the latter into the second chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With the above and additional objectsvand advantages in view as will hereinafter appear, this inventioncomprises the devices, combinations, and arrangements of partshereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of apreferred embodiment in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view illustrating the filtering devicepursuant to the present invention as disposed at the bottom of anaquarium;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a portion of the housing ofthe filtering device pursuant to the present invention; a

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along the line A--A inFIG. 1 of the operative association of the aquarium filter pursuant tothe present invention in an aquarium and illustrates still further theindicator signalling that the aquarium filter is in operative condition;and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view :similar to that of FIG. Y

3 and differing from the latter in that the indicator is signalling theinoperative condition of the filter pursuant to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings vandmore particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, the present inventioncomprises an aquarium filter generally denoted by the referencecharacter 10. The filter 10 includes a housing 12 defined by a pair offront side walls 14 and a pair of rear side walls 16 all integrallyinterconnected to one another and to a bottom portion 18. Thefront sidewalls 14 are separated from one another through the intermediary of arounded corner 19, whereas the rear side walls 16 are interconnected toone another in mutu ally perpendicular relation as illustrated in FIG.2. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the housing 12 is providedwith a partition 20 whichis rounded in cross.- section and acts todefine two chambers 21A 'and 218, respectively, the latter chambersbeing most clearly illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4'. Chamber 21A is definedby the front side walls 14 and the partition 20, whereas the chamber 21Bis defined by. the rear side walls 16 together with the partition 20.

As illustrated most clearly in FIG. 2, the front side walls 14, or ineffect, the rounded corner portion 19 separating the front side walls14, is provided with a plurality of vertically extending slots 22 havinga somewhat parabolic border 23. Similarly, the bottom portionl8 ofthehousing 12 is provided with a plurality which are generally identicalexcept in the manner as will be further described below, the aquariumfilter l pursuant to the present invention further comprises an elongateannular conduit 28 which is generally tapered in cross-section and has apair of opposite open ends. A platform 30 having a plurality of slottedopenings 32 therein is fixedly connected to the elongate annular conduit28 at the lower open end thereof and extends generally transverselythereto. The platform 30 rests on a number of spacing lugs 34 which areprovided at the bottom portion 18 of the housing 12. The platform 30 maybe press-fit into the housing 12 until the platform 30 contacts thespacing lugs 34, the latter which act to provide a clearance or define athird chamber between the platform 30 and the bottom portion 18 of thehousing 12, .which third chamber communicates with the conduit 28 andthe second chamber 21B through the intermediary of the slotted openings32 provided in the platform 30. The platform 30 internally of thechamber 218 acts to support afiltering assembly such as glass wool,charcoal and the like and, thus, the second chamber 21B may becharacterized as a filtering or cleansing chamber through whichcontaminated water may pass to be decontaminated thereby.

An air inlet conduit 36 is provided for directing air into the-elongateannular conduit 28 and is connected 'inlet conduit 36 and air permeableelement 38 will be further clarified below.

The housing 12 is provided with a cover member 40 which may be press-fitonto the front and rear side walls 14 and 16 respectively to embrace thelatter. The cover member 40 is furthermore provided with a raisedopening 42 which surrounds the uppermost portion of the elongate annularconduit 28 so that air and cleansed or contaminated water may beexpelled from the aquarium filter 10. The cover member 40 is alsoprovided with an air vent or opening 44 at one corner thereof so that,when the aquarium filter is initially disposed into the aquarium, watermay readily enter into theffilter 10 through the slotted openings 22 and24 respectively and air existing in the aquarium filter lo maybe readilyexpelled through the air vent 44 and thus will not present any obstacleto the inflow of water through the slotted openings 22 and 24respectively.

Theaquarium filter was indicated above is provided with an indicatingmeans for signalling its operability. The indicatingmeans acts toprovide a visual signal to an observer that water is flowing into thechamber 21A through the intermediary of the slotted openings 22 and i 24respectively. In this respect, the indicating means pursuant to thepresent invention comprises a spherical body 46, the latter having aspecific gravity which is greater than that of water and, therefore, in

the absence of water flowing in the chamber 21A through the intermediaryof the slots 22 and 24 respectively, the spherical body 46 will remainat the bottom of the chamber 21A adjacent the slotted openings 24therein. However, when water flows into the chamber 21A through theintermediary of the slotted openings 22 and 24 respectively, the flow ofwater is sufficient for causing the spherical body 46 to ascend in thechamber 21A to a position as illustrated in FIG. 3. In order to preventthe spherical body 46 from passing out of the chamber 21A and into thechamber 218, the cover member 40 is inclined in a manner as illustratedin FIG. 3 such that the vertical space d between the uppermost edge ofthe partition 20 and lowermost surface of the cover member 40 issubstantially less than the diameter of the spherical body 46. Thus,when the spherical body 46 elevates to that position as illustrated inFIG. 3 the latter cannot pass from chamber 21A into 218.

As indicated above, FIGS. 3 and 4 differ from one another in onerespect, namely, in FIG. 3 the spherical body 46 is in its uppermostposition and in-FIG. 4 the spherical body 46 is in its lowermostposition and resting upon the slotted openings 24. The significance ofthe upper position of the spherical body 46 as opposed to the lowerposition of the latter is of great importance. In this respect, as thoseskilled in the art readily understand, the filtering material or glasswool and charcoal which are contained internally of the chamber 218become clogged after a period of time and, thus, upon becoming cloggedthe latter obstructs the flow of water and must be replaced immediatelyto maintain the aquarium in whichthe aquarium filter 10 is disposed in acleansed condition. Thus, notwithstande ing the fact that the pump isoperating as may be indicated by the air bubbles which ascend in theelongate annular conduit 28, the filtering device 10 may be clogged and,therefore,'inoperable, which operability may not be necessarily easilyor readily observable. However, because of the provision of thespherical body 46, the glass wool and charcoal which constitutes thefiltering materials may become clogged and thus prevent water fromflowing into the chamber. 21A through the slotted openings 22 and '24respectively. Therefore, the spherical body 46 will remain in itslowermost position in the chamber 21A. In its lowermost position, thespherical body 46 thus readily indicates to an observer that water is'not flowing throughout the filteringdevice 10 and, therefore, theinoperability of the filtering device 10. However, as long as thefiltering materials remain clear and unclogged water will flow into thechamber 21Athrough the intermediary of the slotted openings 22 and 24respectively and thus cause the spherical body 46 to ascend into itsuppermost position as indicated in FIG. 3. The uppermost position of thespherical body 46 thus readily indicates to an observer that thefiltering device is operating and that the filtering materials in thefiltering device are unclogged.

In order to enhance the signalling effectiveness of the indicating meanspursuant to the present invention, the portion of the front side walls14 to the left of, or above, the parabolic border 23, as illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4 is provided as being opaque in nature, whereas the portionof the front side walls 14 below and to the right of the parabolicborder 23, as illustrated in FIGS.

3 and 4, wherein the slots 22 are provided, is generally transparent. Inthis respect, when the spherical body 46 is in its lowermost position onthe bottom of the chamber 21A, the spherical body 46 may be readilyobservable and, therefore, its presence would indicate that thefiltering device is not operating. However, when the spherical body 46is in its uppermost position as illustrated in FIG. 3, the opaqueportionof the front side walls 14 acts to conceal the spherical body 46and, therefore, the absence of the spherical body 46 from view wouldindicate that the filtering device is in fact operating. Thus, anobserver need not determine whether or not the spherical body 46 is inits upper position or its lower position but need only examine thefiltering device to determine whether or not the spherical body 46 is infact visible. If in fact the spherical body 46 is observable, clearlythe observer will be signalled that the aquarium filter is notoperating. However, when the spherical body 46 is absent from view, theobserver will be readily signalled that the filter is operating.

In operation, the aquarium filter is disposed internally of an aquariumso that water in the aquarium may readily enter into the housing 12while existing air initially in the housing 12 is expelled through theair vent 44. The support base 26 of the housing 12 acts to space thebottom portion 18 of the housing 12 from the bottom of the aquarium and,therefore, water may readily flow into chamber 21A through the slottedopenings 22 and 24 respectively without obstacle thereto. The inflow ofwater into chamber 21A will cause the spherical body 46 to ascend to theuppermost position as indicated in FIG. 3 and water will then continueto flow out of chamber 21A into chamber 213 to be cleansed by the latterthrough the intermediary of the filtering materials or glass wool andcharcoal. Water will then, after being decontaminated in the chamber218, flow into the elongate annular conduit 28 through the openings 32provided in the platform 30 and will be expelled from the conduit 28 atthe uppermost open end of the latter. The inflow of water into thehousing 12 will transverse the aforementioned path because of theinjection of air into the elongate annular conduit 28 through theintermediary of the air inlet conduit 36 and the air permeable member38. Thus, the pressurized air which is injected into the annular conduit28 causes the continuous inflow of water into the housing 12 to becleansed by the latter and expelled therefrom together with thepressurized air through the upper opening in the annular conduit 28.

Eventually, the filtering materials or glass wool and charcoal willbecome fully clogged with the debris withdrawn from the water and uponso becoming clogged, the filtering elements will cease to function. Atthis point, upon ceasing to function the lack of inflow of water intothe chamber 21A will result in the descending of the spherical body 46to the lowermost portion of the chamber 21A. The spherical body 46 asindicated above will descend because of the nature of its specificgravity which is slightly greater than that of water and in the absenceof water flow between the channels 21A and 213, the spherical body 46has little alternative other than to descent in the chamber 21A. Upon sodescending and becoming visible through the lower transparent portionsof the front side walls 14 an observer will be readily signalled thatthe aquarium filter is not operating and that the glass wool must bereplaced immediately. Upon replacement of the contaminated glass woolwith uncontaminated glass wool, the filtering device pursuant to thepresent invention will again operate and cause the spherical body 46 toascend in the chamber 21A in a manner as indicated above.

Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understoodthat the present disclosure relates to a preferred embodiment of theinvention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to beconstrued as a limitation of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An aquarium filtering device for an aquarium tank .havingcontaminated and decontaminated water therein, said filtering devicecomprising in combination a housing provided with three chambersdefining an inlet chamber in fluid flow relation with the aquarium tankand a filtration chamber in fluid flow relation with said inlet chamberand an outlet chamber in fluid flow relation with said filtrationchamber, said filtration chamber adaptable to contain a mass offiltering material, said outlet chamber being provided with openingmeans for ingress of air into said outlet chamber and egress ofdecontaminated water out of said outlet chamber into the aquarium tank,said inlet chamber being provided with inlet means comprising an inletthrough which contaminated water from the tank may flow, an air streamsupply means disposed in said outlet chamber which directs ingressed airfrom said opening means into said outlet chamber thereby when thefiltering material is unclogged causing contaminated water from theaquarium tank to flow through said inlet into said inlet chamber andtherefrom into said filtration chamber where the contaminated water issubstantially decontaminated by the filtering material before flowinginto said outlet chamber and being egressed through said opening meansinto the aquarium tank, and indicating means disposed in said inletchamber and. responsive to flow of water from said inlet to saidfiltration chamber for signalling flow of the contaminated water throughthe filtering material, whereby there is no flow of water from saidinlet to said filtration chamber when the filtering material is clogged.

2. A filtering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said indicatingmeans includes visual means for visually indicating water flow from saidinlet to said filtration chamber. 1

3. A filtering device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said visual meansincludes a body displaceable in said inlet chamber and having a specificgravity of greater magnitude than that of water.

4. A filtering device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the specificgravity of said body is of such a magnitude that said body will restfreely on lower confines of said inlet chamber in absence of water flowfrom said inlet to said filtration chamber and yet will ascend inpresence of water flow from said :inlet to said filtration chamber.

5. A filtering device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said housing istransparent at least at the lower confines of said inlet chamber forpermitting observation of said body when said body indicates absence ofwater flow from said inlet to said filtration chamber, therebysignalling the filtering material is clogged.

6. A filtering device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said housing isgenerallyopaque at upper confines of said inlet chamber for concealingsaid body and indica ting the presence of water fiow from said inlet tosaid filtration chamber, thereby signalling flow of the contaminatedwater through the filtering material.

7. A filtering device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said housingincludes an elongate annular member and a platform extendingtransversely therefrom for dividing said housing into said outlet andfiltration chambers, said annular member having a pair of opposite openends, said platform extending from one of said open ends, said housingincluding a bottom portion and means for spacing said platform from saidbottom portion in parallel relation therewith, said spacingcommunicating with said annular member, said platform having apluralityof openings for communicating said outlet chamber with saidfiltration chamber, said platform supporting the filtering materialexternally of said annular member and internally of said filtrationchamber, said air stream supply means being disposed in said annularmember.

8. A filtering device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said housingfurther includes a partition for dividing said housing into said inletand filtration chambers, and a cover portion spaced from said partitionfor permitting water to flow from said inlet chamber into saidfiltration chamber.

9. A filtering device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the spacing betweensaid cover portion and said partition is less than the extent of saidbody for confining said body in said inlet chamber, said body beingspherical.

10. A filtering device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said air streamsupply means includes a conduit terminating in an air permeable memberand extending in said elongate annular member for dispensing air intosaid annular member.

11. A filtering device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said inletincludes a plurality of openings extending in mutually perpendicularrelation, said housing including a support base for spacing said inletopenings from portions of the aquarium tank that would otherwise preventwater from flowing into said inlet chamber.

1. An aquarium filtering device for an aquarium tank having contaminatedand decontaminated water therein, said filtering device comprising incombination a housing provided with three chambers defining an inletchamber in fluid flow relation with the aquarium tank and a filtrationchamber in fluid flow relation with said inlet chamber and an outletchamber in fluid flow relation with said filtration chamber, saidfiltration chamber adaptable to contain a mass of filtering material,said outlet chamber being provided with opening means for ingress of airinto said outlet chamber and egress of decontaminated water out of saidoutlet chamber into the aquarium tank, said inlet chamber being providedwith inlet means comprising an inlet through which contaminated waterfrom the tank may flow, an air stream supply means disposed in saidoutlet chamber which directs ingressed air from said opening means intosaid outlet chamber thereby when the filtering material is uncloggedcausing contaminated water from the aquarium tank to flow through saidinlet into saiD inlet chamber and therefrom into said filtration chamberwhere the contaminated water is substantially decontaminated by thefiltering material before flowing into said outlet chamber and beingegressed through said opening means into the aquarium tank, andindicating means disposed in said inlet chamber and responsive to flowof water from said inlet to said filtration chamber for signalling flowof the contaminated water through the filtering material, whereby thereis no flow of water from said inlet to said filtration chamber when thefiltering material is clogged.
 1. An aquarium filtering device for anaquarium tank having contaminated and decontaminated water therein, saidfiltering device comprising in combination a housing provided with threechambers defining an inlet chamber in fluid flow relation with theaquarium tank and a filtration chamber in fluid flow relation with saidinlet chamber and an outlet chamber in fluid flow relation with saidfiltration chamber, said filtration chamber adaptable to contain a massof filtering material, said outlet chamber being provided with openingmeans for ingress of air into said outlet chamber and egress ofdecontaminated water out of said outlet chamber into the aquarium tank,said inlet chamber being provided with inlet means comprising an inletthrough which contaminated water from the tank may flow, an air streamsupply means disposed in said outlet chamber which directs ingressed airfrom said opening means into said outlet chamber thereby when thefiltering material is unclogged causing contaminated water from theaquarium tank to flow through said inlet into saiD inlet chamber andtherefrom into said filtration chamber where the contaminated water issubstantially decontaminated by the filtering material before flowinginto said outlet chamber and being egressed through said opening meansinto the aquarium tank, and indicating means disposed in said inletchamber and responsive to flow of water from said inlet to saidfiltration chamber for signalling flow of the contaminated water throughthe filtering material, whereby there is no flow of water from saidinlet to said filtration chamber when the filtering material is clogged.2. A filtering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said indicatingmeans includes visual means for visually indicating water flow from saidinlet to said filtration chamber.
 3. A filtering device as claimed inclaim 2, wherein said visual means includes a body displaceable in saidinlet chamber and having a specific gravity of greater magnitude thanthat of water.
 4. A filtering device as claimed in claim 3, wherein thespecific gravity of said body is of such a magnitude that said body willrest freely on lower confines of said inlet chamber in absence of waterflow from said inlet to said filtration chamber and yet will ascend inpresence of water flow from said inlet to said filtration chamber.
 5. Afiltering device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said housing istransparent at least at the lower confines of said inlet chamber forpermitting observation of said body when said body indicates absence ofwater flow from said inlet to said filtration chamber, therebysignalling the filtering material is clogged.
 6. A filtering device asclaimed in claim 5, wherein said housing is generally opaque at upperconfines of said inlet chamber for concealing said body and indicatingthe presence of water flow from said inlet to said filtration chamber,thereby signalling flow of the contaminated water through the filteringmaterial.
 7. A filtering device as claimed in claim 6, wherein saidhousing includes an elongate annular member and a platform extendingtransversely therefrom for dividing said housing into said outlet andfiltration chambers, said annular member having a pair of opposite openends, said platform extending from one of said open ends, said housingincluding a bottom portion and means for spacing said platform from saidbottom portion in parallel relation therewith, said spacingcommunicating with said annular member, said platform having a pluralityof openings for communicating said outlet chamber with said filtrationchamber, said platform supporting the filtering material externally ofsaid annular member and internally of said filtration chamber, said airstream supply means being disposed in said annular member.
 8. Afiltering device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said housing furtherincludes a partition for dividing said housing into said inlet andfiltration chambers, and a cover portion spaced from said partition forpermitting water to flow from said inlet chamber into said filtrationchamber.
 9. A filtering device as claimed in claim 8, wherein thespacing between said cover portion and said partition is less than theextent of said body for confining said body in said inlet chamber, saidbody being spherical.
 10. A filtering device as claimed in claim 9,wherein said air stream supply means includes a conduit terminating inan air permeable member and extending in said elongate annular memberfor dispensing air into said annular member.